Imphal, Oct 24: Manipur-based United Naga Council has asked Naga MLAs in the state to sign a declaration latest by tomorrow supporting the ongoing Centre-NSCN(IM) peace talks and expressing desire to live under one administrative unit, official sources said today. The UNC also informed the Naga MLAs that "appropriate follow-up steps" would be initiated against the legislators if they failed to sign the "declaration" copies given to them by the said date, the sources said.

Some Naga MLAs confirmed receipt of the declaration copies but none had so far put in their signatures, they said. The authorities have obtained a copy of the October 19 UNC letter to the Naga legislators.

Under the 'declaration', the Naga MLAs should say that they fully supported the ongoing peace process, urge the concerned parties to expedite it and demand the political integration of Nagas by removing the "arbitrary boundaries."

Keeping in mind the undertaking given to UNC on February 7, 2002, the council has called upon all Naga MLAs in Manipur to declare their stand on the current peace talks and desire of Nagas to live under one administrative unit, the sources said quoting the letter. Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on the other hand was being pressurised by some social organisations to procure signatures of Naga legislators with the statement that they would not break up Manipur, the sources said but refused to disclose the identity of the organisations.

Neither Ibobi Singh nor any UNC functionary was immediately available for comment.

Bureau Report